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Bolivia approves constitutional referendum to expand power of indigenous majority

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] Bolivian voters on Sunday approved a new constitution that places more power in the hands of the country's indigenous majority. The leftist constitution, which passed by a 59 percent majority, is said by President Evo Morales himself a member of the indigenous majority, to be the start of the new Bolivia. The constitution serves to remove traditional colonial elites from power, and to challenge US influence. It also redistributes land, and creates seats in Congress for minority indigenous groups. The new constitution was strongly opposed in the conservative eastern lowlands, a stronghold of European descendants. The residents there complain that it focuses too strongly upon reinstating power to the indigenous majority, and does not address the capitalism of the eastern plains' cattle and soy industries. The adoption of the constitution does not resolve this divide, and opposition leaders indicated they will continue to oppose it. In October 2008, the Bolivian National Congress ratified the proposed reforms after Morales agreed not to run for re-election in 2014, setting up the national referendum. In August 2008, Morales won a referendum to continue his presidency, which he personally proposed in a bid to legitimize his campaign for the constitutional changes.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on January 26, 2009 (boomark / email).